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Changing Answers

Profit optimization is particularly valuable during times of change. A West Coast LP user recently related how its Optware System has shown that rising chip prices should influence cutting strategy more substantially than it has traditionally.

Their Optware System works like a compass always pointing out the collection of activities that result in the highest profit. The technology makes it practical to model complex multi-facility forest business environments and bring millions of dollars of additional profit to the bottom line by using all resources more effectively. Optware offers much more value than spreadsheet tools.

Their “compass” indicated that recovery is less valuable in the current market indicating that they should cut more square edge lumber out of selected logs even though the result is lower recovery. The change, when implemented, turned red ink to black. The “sweet spot” as to how to run a mill often varies with changing lumber prices, log costs and manufacturing options.

To maximize company-wide profits it is necessary to use a tool that considers all of the tradeoffs on a continuous basis in a comprehensive and objective manner.

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Upcoming Events

September 30 – October 2, 2020

Timber Processing and Energy Expo (TPEE) will be held September 30 – October 2, 2020 at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Oregon. This event is held every other year. The last event included 1,100 exhibitor personnel that used up 60,000 square feet to display machinery, technologies and supplies. More than 1,600 attendees from 110 forest products companies visited TPEE in the past. Attendees came from 39 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces and several overseas countries.

PACWEST 2020 will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and will feature a full program of meetings; technical sessions; roundtables; panel discussions; and short courses on industry topics. Learn about new technologies, process improvement, and the latest industry challenges.

September 2019

WoodTECH 2019 is a unique technology event, where all major sawmilling companies in New Zealand and Australia come together at one location in each country. An opportunity for equipment and technology providers from New Zealand, Australia, North America and Europe meet with local wood producers. The New Zealand event is scheduled for September 11th and 12th. Australia event is scheduled for September 17th and 18th. www.woodtech.events

Past Events

Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – Expo 2019. The show will be held June 26 – 28, 2019 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Show hours will be 9am – 5pm June 26th and 27th; 9am – 1pm on June 28th.

Sponsored and conducted by SFPA since 1950, this event has traditionally included many of the biggest names in the forest products industry, displaying everything from sawmill machinery to materials handling equipment, attracting key representatives from the nation’s largest wood products manufacturers.

May 5 – 8, 2019

PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. The event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and trade fair among such a distinguished group of industry leaders.

PaperCon 2019 will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN.

Timber Processing and Energy Expo (TPEE) will be held October 17 – 19, 2018 at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Oregon. This event is held every other year. The last event included 1,100 exhibitor personnel that used up 60,000 square feet to display machinery, technologies and supplies. More than 1,600 attendees from 110 forest products companies visited TPEE in the past. Attendees came from 39 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces and several overseas countries.

The 36th East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition includes the largest collection of sawmill, logging, biomass, pallet, and related manufacturing equipment supplies and services in the eastern United States. The most advanced machinery, equipment, and technology in the industry will be on display. The event will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, Virginia. See EXPORichmond.com for more information.

April 13 – 14, 2018

The fifth Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE) will be held Friday – Saturday, April 13 – 14, 2018 in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The PELICE event again immediately follows the Bioenergy Fuels & Products Conference & Expo, which will be held April 11 – 12, also in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Hotel. Stop by and see us at Booth 514.

WoodTECH 2017 is a unique technology event, where all major sawmilling companies in New Zealand and Australia come together at one location in each country. An opportunity for equipment and technology providers from New Zealand, Australia, North America and Europe meet with local wood producers. Australia event is scheduled for September 20th and 21st. The New Zealand event is scheduled for September 26th and 27th. www.woodtech.events

June 14 – 16, 2017

Visit us for the 34th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – Expo 2017. The show will be held June 14-16, 2017 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Show hours will be 9am – 5pm June 14 and 15; 9am – 1pm on June 16.

Sponsored and conducted by SFPA since 1950, this event has traditionally included many of the biggest names in the forest products industry, displaying everything from sawmill machinery to materials handling equipment, attracting key representatives from the nation’s largest wood products manufacturers.

June 7 – 10, 2017

PACWEST 2017 will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and will feature a full program of meetings; technical sessions; roundtables; panel discussions; and short courses on industry topics. Learn about new technologies, process improvement, and the latest industry challenges.

PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. The event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and trade fair among such a distinguished group of industry leaders. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, PaperCon 2017′s theme is “Renew, Rethink, Redefine the Future.”

PaperCon 2017 will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN

Timber Processing and Energy Expo (TPEE) will be held September 28-30, 2016 at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Oregon. This event is held every other year. The last event included 170 exhibitor companies that used up 43,000 square feet to display machinery, technologies and supplies. More than 1,700 attendees from 115 forest products companies visited TPEE in the past. Attendees came from 30 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces and several overseas countries. Come join us to see the latest technology from our industry’s leading suppliers. Please visit us at booth #114.

PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. The event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and trade fair among such a distinguished group of industry leaders. The 2016 theme is TAPPI’s Next Century: Meeting the Challenge of Change.

PaperCon 2016 will be held in Cincinnati, OH at the Duke Energy Center.

Join us for the 33rd Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – Expo 2015. The show will be held June 10-12, 2015 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Show hours will be 9am – 5pm on June 10 and 11; 9am – 1pm on June 12.

Sponsored and conducted by SFPA since 1950, this event has traditionally included many of the biggest names in the forest products industry, displaying everything from sawmill machinery to materials handling equipment, attracting key representatives from the nation’s largest wood products manufacturers.

“Expo remains a great venue to showcase advancements in manufacturing and new technologies, says SFPA’s Eric Gee, exposition director. “As the industry’s recovery continues, we plan to grow the show in a larger hall, providing space for more exhibitors,” he adds.

PACWEST 2015 will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and will feature a full program of meetings; technical sessions; roundtables; panel discussions; and short courses on industry topics. Learn about new technologies, process improvement, and the latest industry challenges.

May 6, 2015

PricewaterhouseCoopers Annual Conference, Vancouver, Canada

Visit the PwC Global Forest & Paper Industry Conference. Participants hear views on the Canada-US lumber trade relations, the state of the current global market for pulp, paper and wood products, new developments in the bio-energy field and sustainability, the industry financial performance and outlook for the next couple of years, engaging communities and government to help maintain a healthy industry, and CEO’s perspectives on current issues and future trends.

April 8 – 9, 2015

The Council of Forest Industries (COFI) will host its Annual Convention April 8-9, 2015 at the Prince George Civic Centre in Prince George, BC. This year’s program will feature opinion leaders speaking on the issues that matter to the forest industry in BC, including markets, fibre, products, and competitiveness

The 2012 event included 162 exhibitor companies that used up 43,000 square feet to display and demonstrate their machinery, technologies and supplies. More than 1,000 attendees from 115 forest products producing companies and 200 specific mill site operations visited TP&EE. They came from 30 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces and several overseas countries.

Come join us to see the latest technology from our industry’s leading suppliers.

Visit the PwC Global Forest & Paper Industry Conference. Participants hear views on the Canada-US lumber trade relations, the state of the current global market for pulp, paper and wood products, new developments in the bio-energy field and sustainability, the industry financial performance and outlook for the next couple of years, engaging communities and government to help maintain a healthy industry, and CEO’s perspectives on current issues and future trends.

March 20 – 21, 2014

The fourth Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE) will be held Thursday – Friday, March 20 – 21, 2014 in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The PELICE event again immediately follows the Bioenergy Fuels & Products Conference & Expo, which will be held March 18 – 19, also in the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Hotel.

Optware Solutions LLC was founded in 1991 (under the name Optware Consulting) as a company dedicated to the application of linear programming technology to the forest products industry. The first system installation was in a plywood plant in France. Optware Solutions has been a pioneer in the integration of relational database technology with linear programming.

Today, Optware Solutions offers a variety of state-of-the-art linear programming-related products and services. Optware Solutions believes that service is our business and we pledge to: place customer needs above our own, to protect confidential information, and to act in a professional manner.